Chattel

A chattel is another name for a personal, physical possession or tangible good that is moveable between locations – e.g. a painting.

What are some examples of chattels?

Jewellery, clothing and vehicles are all examples of chattels as these are all personal belongings which can be moved. More include:

• Furniture
• Machinery
• Books
• Wine
• Antiques
• Crockery

Is a chattel the same as an asset?

We can definitely see where you’d confuse the two! But actually, an asset is something or even someone which is regarded as highly valuable. An asset, however, doesn’t have to take physical form – just look at Bitcoin!

Another difference between a chattel and an asset is that a chattel doesn’t have to be worth anything. They are usually solely for personal use rather than for investment purposes. 

This is not to say your chattel cannot be worth a ton if you do one day decide to sell it – so you might want to hold onto that old Chinese porcelain set just in case!

Do I have to pay Capital Gains Tax on my chattels?

If you’ve had a look at any of our Capital Gains Tax guides, then you probably have an inkling that disposing of a chattel may attract Capital Gains Tax (CGT).

Whether you pay CGT solely depends on how much profit is made after the sale. For a quick and easy calculation, pop your details into our Capital Gains Tax calculator.

We’ve also broken down all of the CGT rates and exemptions for you right here.

Is money a chattel then?

It can be held and moved and is usually for personal use, but no, money is not classed as a chattel. 

Although it isn’t quite clear why money is exempt from this category, we’d assume it’s because it is a medium of economic exchange and the primary measure of wealth. 

In simpler terms, money isn’t a chattel because… well, it’s money! 🤑